Ultrahigh-performance concrete(UHPC)is a groundbreaking kind of concrete that distinguishes itself from conventional concrete through its unique material properties.Understanding and managing the time-dependent charac...Ultrahigh-performance concrete(UHPC)is a groundbreaking kind of concrete that distinguishes itself from conventional concrete through its unique material properties.Understanding and managing the time-dependent characteristics of these materials is essential for their effective use in various construction applications.This study presents an experimental evaluation of the compressive and bending properties of the UHPC incorporating polypropylene,steel,and glass fibers.Based on ACI-211 guidelines,the UHPC mix was designed by using three types of aggregates:limestone,andesite,and quartzite,along with 5%fiber content(at varying percentages of 0,5%,10%,15%,and 20%)relative to the cementitious materials,and three different water-to-cement(w/c)ratios(0.24,0.3,and 0.4)were used.In this research,the compressive and flexural strength tests were conducted.The results show that increasing the values of the fibers significantly enhances the compressive strength of the studied samples.Furthermore,the utilization of fibers markedly improves the bending strength of the samples,demonstrating a strong correlation with the yield resistance of the material.Also,findings show that using steel fibers increases the compressive and bending strength of the tested samples more than polypropylene and glass fibers.For instance,in UHPC samples with 0.4 w/c,the average compressive strength values are 82.2 MPa,70.3 MPa,and 67.1 MPa for steel,polypropylene,and glass fibers,respectively.Also,in the flexural strength test,the modulus of rupture is obtained as an average of 6.24 MPa,5.24 MPa and 4.83 MPa for UHPC samples with steel,polypropylene and glass fibers,respectively.展开更多
An experimental study was conducted to investigate the feasibility of a proposed rapid repair technique for severely earthquake-damaged bridge piers with flexural-shear failure mode. Six circular pier specimens were f...An experimental study was conducted to investigate the feasibility of a proposed rapid repair technique for severely earthquake-damaged bridge piers with flexural-shear failure mode. Six circular pier specimens were first tested to severe damage in flexural-shear mode and repaired using early-strength concrete with high-fluidity and carbon fiber reinforced polymers （CFRP）. After about four days, the repaired specimens were tested to failure again. The seismic behavior of the repaired specimens was evaluated and compared to the original specimens. Test results indicate that the proposed repair technique is highly effective. Both shear strength and lateral displacement of the repaired piers increased when compared to the original specimens, and the failure mechanism of the piers shifted from flexural-shear failure to ductile flexural failure. Finally, a simple design model based on the Seible formulation for post-earthquake repair design was compared to the experimental results. It is concluded that the design equation for bridge pier strengthening before an earthquake could be applicable to seismic repairs after an earthquake if the shear strength contribution of the spiral bars in the repaired piers is disregarded and 1.5 times more FRP sheets is provided.展开更多
With the idea of the phononic crystals,the beams with periodic structure are designed.Flexural vibration through such periodic beams composed of two kinds of materials is studied.The emphasis is laid on the effects of...With the idea of the phononic crystals,the beams with periodic structure are designed.Flexural vibration through such periodic beams composed of two kinds of materials is studied.The emphasis is laid on the effects of rotary inertia and shear deformation.Based on the vibration equation,plane wave expansion method is provided.The acceleration frequency responses of such beams with finite structure are simulated by the finite element method.The frequency ranges of sharp drops in the calculated acceleration frequency response curves are in good agreement with those in the band structures.The findings will be significant in the application of the periodic beams.展开更多
Replaceable flexural and shear fuse-type coupling beams are used in hybrid coupled shear wall(HCSW)systems,enabling concrete buildings to be promptly recovered after severe earthquakes.This study aimed to analytically...Replaceable flexural and shear fuse-type coupling beams are used in hybrid coupled shear wall(HCSW)systems,enabling concrete buildings to be promptly recovered after severe earthquakes.This study aimed to analytically evaluate the seismic behavior of flexural and shear fuse beams situated in short-,medium-and high-rise RC buildings that have HCSWs.Three building groups hypothetically located in a high seismic hazard zone were studied.A series of 2D nonlinear time history analyses was accomplished in OpenSees,using the ground motion records scaled at the design basis earthquake level.It was found that the effectiveness of fuses in HCSWs depends on various factors such as size and scale of the building,allowable rotation value,inter-story drift ratio,residual drift quantity,energy dissipation value of the fuses,etc.The results show that shear fuses better meet the requirements of rotations and drifts.In contrast,flexural fuses dissipate more energy,but their sectional stiffness should increase to meet other requirements.It was concluded that adoption of proper fuses depends on the overall scale of the building and on how associated factors are considered.展开更多
A novel elastic metamaterial is proposed with the aim of achieving lowfrequency broad bandgaps and bandgap regulation.The band structure of the proposed metamaterial is calculated based on the Floquet-Bloch theorem,an...A novel elastic metamaterial is proposed with the aim of achieving lowfrequency broad bandgaps and bandgap regulation.The band structure of the proposed metamaterial is calculated based on the Floquet-Bloch theorem,and the boundary modes of each bandgap are analyzed to understand the effects of each component of the unit cell on the bandgap formation.It is found that the metamaterials with a low elastic modulus of ligaments can generate flexural wave bandgaps below 300 Hz.Multi-frequency vibrations can be suppressed through the selective manipulation of bandgaps.The dual-graded design of metamaterials that can significantly improve the bandgap width is proposed based on parametric studies.A new way that can regulate the bandgap is revealed by studying the graded elastic modulus in the substrate.The results demonstrate that the nonlinear gradient of the elastic modulus in the substrate offers better bandgap performance.Based on these analyses,the proposed elastic metamaterials can pave the way for multi-frequency vibration control,low-frequency bandgap broadening,and bandgap tuning.展开更多
With an increased utilization of carbon fiber reinforced polymers(CFRPs)in high temperature environments,investigating their effects on materials becomes exceedingly important.This study presents a comparative investi...With an increased utilization of carbon fiber reinforced polymers(CFRPs)in high temperature environments,investigating their effects on materials becomes exceedingly important.This study presents a comparative investigation of thermo-oxidative aging effects on the flexural performance of two carbon fiber reinforced composite laminates(CFRCLs):a quasi-isotropic plain-woven CFRCL and a quasi-isotropic unidirectional layup CFRCL(designated as PW-CFRCL and UD-CFRCL,respectively).The CFRCLs were subjected to thermo-oxidative aging for specific durations,and their flexural strength was evaluated through three-point bending tests.The flexural strength of the laminates decreased with the prolonged aging duration.Despite having lower fiber content,PW-CFRCLs showed higher flexural strength than UD-CFRCLs.After eight days of aging,the flexural strength of PW-CFRCLs decreased by merely 4%-5%,while that of UD-CFRCLs decreased by 11%-14%.After 32 days of aging,the thinner PW-CFRCL with the lowest fiber content exhibited the highest flexural strength(595.52 MPa),followed by the thinner UD-CFRCL(549.83 MPa),then the thicker PW-CFRCL(445.29 MPa)and finally,the thicker UD-CFRCL(393.90 MPa).The decline in flexural properties of the laminates was primarily attributed to matrix cracking and interface debonding resulting from matrix oxidation.To validate the universality of this result,the finite element method was employed,showing a good correlation with the experimental findings.展开更多
This study investigates the low-velocity impact and post-impact flexural properties of 3D integrated woven spacer composites,focusing on their orthotropic behavior when tested along two principal directions,i.e.,warp(...This study investigates the low-velocity impact and post-impact flexural properties of 3D integrated woven spacer composites,focusing on their orthotropic behavior when tested along two principal directions,i.e.,warp(X-type)and weft(Y-type)directions.The same composite material was tested in these orientations to evaluate the differences in impact resistance and residual bending strength.Specimens were fabricated via vacuum-assisted molding and tested at 2,3,5,and 7 J impact energies using an Instron Ceast 9350 drop-weight impact testing machine,in accordance with ASTM D7136.Post-impact flexural tests were performed using a four-point bending method in accordance with ASTM D7264.The absorbed energy increased from 1.97 to 6.98 J,and the panel damage area ranged from 121 to 361 mm^(2) as impact energy roses.Specimens tested in the weft direction(Y-type)showed greater residual strength(up to 15.83 N)and displacement(up to 0.538 mm)than those tested in the warp direction(X-type).Ultrasonic C-scan imaging revealed localized matrix cracking and fiber failure damage patterns.Results emphasize the directional differences in impact resistance and residual bending properties,highlighting the importance of material orientation in structural applications.This study provides a foundation for utilizing 3D woven spacer composites in lightweight,damage-tolerant structural components.展开更多
Aspects of the general Vlasov theory are examined separately as applied to a thin-walled channel section cantilever beam under free-end end loading. In particular, the flexural bending and shear that arise under trans...Aspects of the general Vlasov theory are examined separately as applied to a thin-walled channel section cantilever beam under free-end end loading. In particular, the flexural bending and shear that arise under transverse shear and axial torsional loading are each considered theoretically. These analyses involve the location of the shear centre at which transverse shear forces when applied do not produce torsion. This centre, when taken to be coincident with the centre of twist implies an equivalent reciprocal behaviour. That is, an axial torsion applied concentric with the shear centre will twist but not bend the beam. The respective bending and shear stress conversions are derived for each action applied to three aluminium alloy extruded channel sections mounted as cantilevers with a horizontal principal axis of symmetry. Bending and shear are considered more generally for other thin-walled sections when the transverse loading axes at the shear centre are not parallel to the section = s centroidal axes of principal second moments of area. The fixing at one end of the cantilever modifies the St Venant free angular twist and the free warping displacement. It is shown from the Wagner-Kappus torsion theory how the end constrained warping generates an axial stress distribution that varies with the length and across the cross-section for an axial torsion applied to the shear centre. It should be mentioned here for wider applications and validation of the Vlasov theory that attendant papers are to consider in detail bending and torsional loadings applied to other axes through each of the centroid and the web centre. Therein, both bending and twisting arise from transverse shear and axial torsion applied to each position being displaced from the shear centre. Here, the influence of the axis position upon the net axial and shear stress distributions is to be established. That is, the net axial stress from axial torsional loading is identified with the sum of axial stress due to bending and axial stress arising from constrained warping displacements at the fixing. The net shear stress distribution overlays the distributions from axial torsion and that from flexural shear under transverse loading. Both arise when transverse forces are displaced from the shear centre.展开更多
High rock temperature is a great challenge frequently encountered during subsurface resource recovery and deep underground space utilization,and it is still unclear how the granitic rock responds to realtime high temp...High rock temperature is a great challenge frequently encountered during subsurface resource recovery and deep underground space utilization,and it is still unclear how the granitic rock responds to realtime high temperature upon shear loading.To better understand the shear fracture behavior and underlying processes of intact granite exposed to thermal-mechanical coupling loading,direct shear tests were conducted utilizing a newly built testing apparatus at varied normal stresses and high temperatures.Influencesof different temperatures and different heating methods(real-time heating and thermal treatment)on the shear mechanical behavior were compared and discussed.Results indicate that shear stress fluctuationswith some small stress drops occur as shear stress is approaching the peak strength under real-time heating,accompanied by more and earlier AE signal uprushes.This suggests that greater cracking events occur earlier during real-time heating than after thermal treatment,resulting in a lower peak shear strength.Furthermore,the peak shear strength,post-peak stress drop,and cohesion rise from room temperature(RT)to 200℃(the peak strength increases by 8%,5.8%,and 9.9%under normal stress of 5 MPa,15 MPa,and 20 MPa,correspondingly),and subsequently decline from 200℃to 400℃.Temperature has a limited impact on shear stiffness from RT to 200℃,but significantlyreduces it from 200℃to 400℃,with drops of 15%,7.9%,and 10%under normal stress of 5 MPa,15 MPa,and 20 MPa,respectively.Moreover,the shear strength and stiffness under real-time heating are lower than those for the thermally treated specimens.The strengthening of intact granite below 200℃upon shear is associated with loss of water and a more compacted structure,while the weakening effect of temperature on shear strength from 200℃to 400℃is due to the new thermal cracks and less brittle and stiff of minerals.展开更多
The negative Poisson’s ratio(NPR)bolt is an innovative support element distinguished by its high strength,elongation,and a slightly negative Poisson’s ratio.Unlike conventional prestressed(PR)bolts with a positive P...The negative Poisson’s ratio(NPR)bolt is an innovative support element distinguished by its high strength,elongation,and a slightly negative Poisson’s ratio.Unlike conventional prestressed(PR)bolts with a positive Poisson’s ratio,the NPR bolt exhibits a quasi-ideal plastic response without a prominent yield platform,enabling it to sustain high prestress with a substantial safety margin,which is particularly advantageous for jointed rock masses.However,investigations into the shear resistance mechanisms of NPR bolts under varying prestress levels remain limited.This study conducted full-scale double shear tests to assess the shear strength,deformation behavior,energy absorption,and failure mechanisms of NPR bolts under different prestress conditions.To ensure a fair comparison with PR bolts,a prestress utilization coefficient(PUC)was introduced.The results reveal that at a PUC of 0.25,the NPR bolt achieved peak axial force,shear displacement,and peak shear force values that are 2.41,1.88,and 2.13 times greater than those of the PR bolt,respectively.Shear performance was optimized at a prestress level of 100 kN,with energy absorption reaching 47.1 kJ,which is 2.8 times that of the PR bolt.Furthermore,the necking ratio was significantly reduced,indicating more distributed plastic deformation and delayed failure.Field applications verified the superior performance,resulting in a 27.4%reduction in roof settlement and enhanced structural integrity.These findings confirm that NPR bolts possess excellent shear resistance,energy absorption,and deformation adaptability,and optimizing prestress significantly enhances their support performance,providing a strong basis for geotechnical engineering applications.展开更多
To improve the shear and flexural capacity of flexural members, the steel and basalt fibers were used in model beams tested under flexure. Three series of single span free supported model beams were prepared from SFRC...To improve the shear and flexural capacity of flexural members, the steel and basalt fibers were used in model beams tested under flexure. Three series of single span free supported model beams were prepared from SFRC （steel fiber reinforced concrete） with longitudinal steel reinforcement （steel ratio of 1.2 %） and varied spacing of steel stirrups and they were tested till failure. Another three series of BFRC （basalt fiber reinforced concrete） double-span model beams with a span of 2 mm~ 1,000 mm and cross section 180 mm ~ 80 mm were tested. During the tests till to the failure the beam reactions, vertical deflections and horizontal strains in concrete were registered, to clarify the range of redistribution of bending moments and shear forces over the span of the beams. Almost all the tested model beams failed in shear, showing visible influence of steel and basalt fibers on the shear capacity of the tested beams. The tests results confirmed that steel and basalt fibers in reinforced concrete beams can partially replace （in certain cases） the traditional steel stirrups calculated for shear.展开更多
This study investigates the width of the secondary eyewall(SE)immediately following its formation in tropical cyclones with surface environmental winds aligned and counter-aligned with environmental vertical wind shea...This study investigates the width of the secondary eyewall(SE)immediately following its formation in tropical cyclones with surface environmental winds aligned and counter-aligned with environmental vertical wind shear(VWS),using idealized numerical experiments.Results reveal that the SE develops greater radial extent when surface winds align with VWS compared to counter-aligned conditions.In alignment configurations,shear-enhanced surface winds on the right flank amplify surface enthalpy fluxes,thereby elevating boundary-layer entropy within the downshear outer-core region.Subsequently,more vigorous outer rainbands develop,inducing marked acceleration of tangential winds in the outer core preceding SE formation.The resultant radial expansion of supergradient winds near the boundary-layer top triggers widespread convective activity immediately beyond the inner core.Progressive axisymmetrization of this convective forcing ultimately generates an expansive SE structure.展开更多
Excavation causes stress redistribution and affects the stress path during the shearing process of rock.The shear strength of rock varies under different stress paths,and the presence of defects reduces the shear stre...Excavation causes stress redistribution and affects the stress path during the shearing process of rock.The shear strength of rock varies under different stress paths,and the presence of defects reduces the shear strength.To further investigate this phenomenon,this study investigates the shear behaviour of rocks with different shear surface integrities under the influenceof different stress paths through laboratory tests and numerical simulations.The results indicate that the shear strength depends on the stress path and a decrease in the shear surface integrity reduces the degree of dependence.The cohesion and friction angle of the Mohr‒Coulomb criterion decrease with weakening of the shear surface integrity.For different stress paths,the direct shear strength is always greater than that of other shear stress paths.The pattern of changes in the acoustic emission count and cumulative count indirectly reflectsthe above findings.Numerical simulations further indicate that the different principal stress states and normal suppression effects during the shearing process lead to changes in the factors of crack propagation,resulting in different mechanical behaviours under various stress paths.For rocks with different integrity levels,the main reason for the different path dependences of shear strength is that the size of the area affected by shear is different.Shear failure will concentrate on the shear plane when the normal inhibition effect is greater.This study explores the mechanism of rock shear behaviour,providing a theoretical basis for establishing more accurate constitutive models and strength criteria.展开更多
Root-inspired anchorage systems in the field of bio-inspired geotechnics are renowned for enhancing the pullout capacity of traditional geotechnical anchorage systems by simulating the morphology and architecture of p...Root-inspired anchorage systems in the field of bio-inspired geotechnics are renowned for enhancing the pullout capacity of traditional geotechnical anchorage systems by simulating the morphology and architecture of plant root systems.However,limited studies have explored their practical applications,particularly in improving slope stability.To fill this gap,this study investigates the reinforcement effect of root-inspired anchors on slope stabilization using transparent soil modeling and 3D-printed anchors,and examines the impact of anchor branching patterns(i.e.branching numbers,branching angle,and branching nodes)on slope bearing capacity,shear band evolution,and temporal and spatial variation of slope deformation.The results show that peak slope bearing capacity increases with branching numbers and branching angles,correlating with the envelope area of the curved shear band.Upper anchors result in step-like deflections in the shear band near the trailing edge,while lower anchors convert the upward concave shear band into an upward convex one,thus increasing the slope bearing capacity.Slope deformation is minimized with intermediate branching parameters,such as a branching number of 4 and a branching angle of 45°.The anchor reinforcement mechanisms,i.e.anchor rod shear resistance,interface friction,anchor pullout capacity,and plate tightening effects,are comprehensively discussed,and the installation effects resulting from compromise slope modeling are identified as the contributors.These findings shed light on the failure process of root-inspired anchors reinforced slopes and provide a preliminary reference for potential applications,especially for the tradeoff between anchor branching,slope deformation,and slope stability.展开更多
Rock mass stability is significantly influenced by the heterogeneity of rock joint roughness and shear strength.While modern technology facilitates assessing roughness heterogeneity,evaluating shear strength heterogen...Rock mass stability is significantly influenced by the heterogeneity of rock joint roughness and shear strength.While modern technology facilitates assessing roughness heterogeneity,evaluating shear strength heterogeneity remains challenging.To address this,this study first captures the morphology of large-scale(1000 mm × 1000 mm) slate and granite joints via 3D laser scanning.Analysis of these surfaces and corresponding push/pull tests on carved specimens revealed a potential correlation between the heterogeneity of roughness and shear strength.A comparative evaluation of five statistical metrics identified information entropy(Hs) as the most robust indicator for quantifying rock joint heterogeneity.Further analysis using Hsreveals that the heterogeneity is anisotropic and,critically,that shear strength heterogeneity is governed not only by roughness heterogeneity but is also significantly influenced by the mean roughness value,normal stress,and intact rock tensile strength.Consequently,a simple comparison of roughness Hsvalues is insufficient for reliably comparing shear strength heterogeneity.To overcome this limitation,a theoretical framework is developed to explicitly map fundamental roughness statistics(mean and heterogeneity) to shear strength heterogeneity.This framework culminates in a practical workflow that allows for the rapid,field-based assessment of shear strength heterogeneity using readily obtainable rock joint roughness data.展开更多
High geo-stress and high temperature in deep rock engineering increase the possibility of engineering and geological disasters in discontinuous rocks.However,the influence of thermomechanical coupling on the shear beh...High geo-stress and high temperature in deep rock engineering increase the possibility of engineering and geological disasters in discontinuous rocks.However,the influence of thermomechanical coupling on the shear behavior and damage evolution of prefractured granite remains immature.In this context,true triaxial laboratory tests and discrete element method simulations under different confining pressures(σ3=3 MPa,σ2=4 MPa,andσ3=80 MPa,σ2=100 MPa)and temperatures(25℃-500℃)were carried out on rough granite fractures with two different orientations.Results indicate that high temperature and high confining pressure increase the peak strength of the prefractured specimen,leading to more microcracks in the host rock and more gouges between the surfaces.Thermal strengthening at low temperatures(<300℃)and residual stick-slip only occur under a greater confining pressure for prefractured specimens.High confining pressure suppresses generation of the thermal microcracks in the heating stage.Cracks first initiate in the asperities on the fracture surfaces,and then propagate into the rock matrix during the mechanical loading stage.In addition,prefractured granite with a larger fracture angle is characterized by smaller peak and residual strength,faster residual slip,fewer new cracks on the specimen surface,and a more pronounced thermal strengthening effect on peak strength.The slip tendency analysis indicates that a higher maximum principal stress(s1)and a large fracture angle(45°-75°)generally result in a higher potential for fracture slip or activation.This study will contribute to a better understanding of the fracture shear mechanism under true triaxial thermomechanical coupling conditions and provides new insights into the stability evaluation of deep dynamic geological hazards.展开更多
To investigate the flexural behaviors of steel reinforced engineered cementitious composite （ECC） beams, the behaviors of the steel reinforced ECC beam and the conventional steel reinforced concrete beam subjected t...To investigate the flexural behaviors of steel reinforced engineered cementitious composite （ECC） beams, the behaviors of the steel reinforced ECC beam and the conventional steel reinforced concrete beam subjected to flexural load are experimentally compared. The experimental results show that the flexural strength and ductility of the steel reinforced ECC beam are 24.8% and 187.67% times larger than those of the steel reinforced concrete beam, and the substitution of concrete with ECC can significantly delay the propagation of cracks. Additionally, a simplified constitutive model of the ECC material is used to simulate the flexural behaviors of beams by the finite element analysis （FEA）. The results show a good agreement between the simulation and test results. The crack width of the steel reinforced ECC beam can be limited to 0.4 mm under the service load conditions. The application of ductile ECC can significantly increase the flexural performance in terms of flexural strength, deformation capacity and ductility of the beams.展开更多
Based on the experimental study and inelastic theory, the ultimate flexuralcapacity of steel encased concrete composite beams are derived. The difference between steel encasedconcrete composite beams with full shear c...Based on the experimental study and inelastic theory, the ultimate flexuralcapacity of steel encased concrete composite beams are derived. The difference between steel encasedconcrete composite beams with full shear connection and beams with partial shear connection,together with the relationship between the inelastic neutral axis of steel parts and concrete parts,are considered in the formulae. The calculation results of the eight specimens with full shearconnection and the three specimens with partial shear connection are in good agreement with theexperimental data, which validates the effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed calculationmethods. Furthermore, the nonlinear finite element analysis of the ultimate flexural capacity of thesteel encased concrete composite beams is performed. Nonlinear material properties and nonlinearcontact properties are considered in the finite element analysis. The finite element analyticalresults also correlate well with the experimental data.展开更多
Unidirectional carbon/carbon（C/C） composites modified with in situ grown carbon nanofibers（CNFs） were prepared by catalysis chemical vapor deposition. The effect of in situ grown CNFs on the flexural properties of...Unidirectional carbon/carbon（C/C） composites modified with in situ grown carbon nanofibers（CNFs） were prepared by catalysis chemical vapor deposition. The effect of in situ grown CNFs on the flexural properties of the C/C composites was investigated by detailed analyses of destructive process. The results show that there is a sharp increase in the flexural load-displacement curve in the axial direction of the CNF-C/C composites, followed by a serrated yielding phenomenon similar to the plastic materials. The failure mode of the C/C composites modified with in situ grown CNFs is changed from the pull-out of single fiber to the breaking of fiber bundles. The existence of interfacial layer composed by middle-textured pyrocarbon, CNFs and high-textured pyrocarbon can block the crack propagation and change the propagation direction of the main crack, which leads to the higher flexural strength and modulus of C/C composites.展开更多
Numerical analysis is carried out to study the sectional properties of the fiber-reinforced polymer（FRP）-confined reinforced concrete（RC）circular columns. The axial load ratio, the FRP confinement ratio and the lo...Numerical analysis is carried out to study the sectional properties of the fiber-reinforced polymer（FRP）-confined reinforced concrete（RC）circular columns. The axial load ratio, the FRP confinement ratio and the longitudinal reinforcement characteristic value are the three main parameters that can influence the neutral axis depth when concrete compression strain reaches an ultimate value. The formula for computing the central angle θ, corresponding to the compression zone, is established according to the data regression of the numerical analysis results. The numerical analysis results demonstrate that the concrete stress enhancement from transverse confinement and strain hardening of the longitudinal reinforcement can cause a much greater flexural strength than that defined by the design code. Based on the analytical studies and the test results of 36 large scale columns, the formula to calculate the flexural strength when columns fail under seismic loading is proposed, and the calculated results agree well with the test results. Finally, parametric studies are conducted on a typical column with different axial load ratios, longitudinal reinforcement characteristic value and FRP confinement ratios. Analysis of the results shows that the calculated flexural strength can be increased by 50% compared to that of unconfined columns defined by the code.展开更多
文摘Ultrahigh-performance concrete(UHPC)is a groundbreaking kind of concrete that distinguishes itself from conventional concrete through its unique material properties.Understanding and managing the time-dependent characteristics of these materials is essential for their effective use in various construction applications.This study presents an experimental evaluation of the compressive and bending properties of the UHPC incorporating polypropylene,steel,and glass fibers.Based on ACI-211 guidelines,the UHPC mix was designed by using three types of aggregates:limestone,andesite,and quartzite,along with 5%fiber content(at varying percentages of 0,5%,10%,15%,and 20%)relative to the cementitious materials,and three different water-to-cement(w/c)ratios(0.24,0.3,and 0.4)were used.In this research,the compressive and flexural strength tests were conducted.The results show that increasing the values of the fibers significantly enhances the compressive strength of the studied samples.Furthermore,the utilization of fibers markedly improves the bending strength of the samples,demonstrating a strong correlation with the yield resistance of the material.Also,findings show that using steel fibers increases the compressive and bending strength of the tested samples more than polypropylene and glass fibers.For instance,in UHPC samples with 0.4 w/c,the average compressive strength values are 82.2 MPa,70.3 MPa,and 67.1 MPa for steel,polypropylene,and glass fibers,respectively.Also,in the flexural strength test,the modulus of rupture is obtained as an average of 6.24 MPa,5.24 MPa and 4.83 MPa for UHPC samples with steel,polypropylene and glass fibers,respectively.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China Under Grant No.51008041 and 50978042the National Special Foundation of Earthquake Science of China Under Grant No.200808021the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities Under Grant No.2011JC011
文摘An experimental study was conducted to investigate the feasibility of a proposed rapid repair technique for severely earthquake-damaged bridge piers with flexural-shear failure mode. Six circular pier specimens were first tested to severe damage in flexural-shear mode and repaired using early-strength concrete with high-fluidity and carbon fiber reinforced polymers （CFRP）. After about four days, the repaired specimens were tested to failure again. The seismic behavior of the repaired specimens was evaluated and compared to the original specimens. Test results indicate that the proposed repair technique is highly effective. Both shear strength and lateral displacement of the repaired piers increased when compared to the original specimens, and the failure mechanism of the piers shifted from flexural-shear failure to ductile flexural failure. Finally, a simple design model based on the Seible formulation for post-earthquake repair design was compared to the experimental results. It is concluded that the design equation for bridge pier strengthening before an earthquake could be applicable to seismic repairs after an earthquake if the shear strength contribution of the spiral bars in the repaired piers is disregarded and 1.5 times more FRP sheets is provided.
基金This project is supported by National Key Basic Research Program of China(973 Program,No.51307).
文摘With the idea of the phononic crystals,the beams with periodic structure are designed.Flexural vibration through such periodic beams composed of two kinds of materials is studied.The emphasis is laid on the effects of rotary inertia and shear deformation.Based on the vibration equation,plane wave expansion method is provided.The acceleration frequency responses of such beams with finite structure are simulated by the finite element method.The frequency ranges of sharp drops in the calculated acceleration frequency response curves are in good agreement with those in the band structures.The findings will be significant in the application of the periodic beams.
文摘Replaceable flexural and shear fuse-type coupling beams are used in hybrid coupled shear wall(HCSW)systems,enabling concrete buildings to be promptly recovered after severe earthquakes.This study aimed to analytically evaluate the seismic behavior of flexural and shear fuse beams situated in short-,medium-and high-rise RC buildings that have HCSWs.Three building groups hypothetically located in a high seismic hazard zone were studied.A series of 2D nonlinear time history analyses was accomplished in OpenSees,using the ground motion records scaled at the design basis earthquake level.It was found that the effectiveness of fuses in HCSWs depends on various factors such as size and scale of the building,allowable rotation value,inter-story drift ratio,residual drift quantity,energy dissipation value of the fuses,etc.The results show that shear fuses better meet the requirements of rotations and drifts.In contrast,flexural fuses dissipate more energy,but their sectional stiffness should increase to meet other requirements.It was concluded that adoption of proper fuses depends on the overall scale of the building and on how associated factors are considered.
基金Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.11872233,U2341231,and 12102245)。
文摘A novel elastic metamaterial is proposed with the aim of achieving lowfrequency broad bandgaps and bandgap regulation.The band structure of the proposed metamaterial is calculated based on the Floquet-Bloch theorem,and the boundary modes of each bandgap are analyzed to understand the effects of each component of the unit cell on the bandgap formation.It is found that the metamaterials with a low elastic modulus of ligaments can generate flexural wave bandgaps below 300 Hz.Multi-frequency vibrations can be suppressed through the selective manipulation of bandgaps.The dual-graded design of metamaterials that can significantly improve the bandgap width is proposed based on parametric studies.A new way that can regulate the bandgap is revealed by studying the graded elastic modulus in the substrate.The results demonstrate that the nonlinear gradient of the elastic modulus in the substrate offers better bandgap performance.Based on these analyses,the proposed elastic metamaterials can pave the way for multi-frequency vibration control,low-frequency bandgap broadening,and bandgap tuning.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.12372130)。
文摘With an increased utilization of carbon fiber reinforced polymers(CFRPs)in high temperature environments,investigating their effects on materials becomes exceedingly important.This study presents a comparative investigation of thermo-oxidative aging effects on the flexural performance of two carbon fiber reinforced composite laminates(CFRCLs):a quasi-isotropic plain-woven CFRCL and a quasi-isotropic unidirectional layup CFRCL(designated as PW-CFRCL and UD-CFRCL,respectively).The CFRCLs were subjected to thermo-oxidative aging for specific durations,and their flexural strength was evaluated through three-point bending tests.The flexural strength of the laminates decreased with the prolonged aging duration.Despite having lower fiber content,PW-CFRCLs showed higher flexural strength than UD-CFRCLs.After eight days of aging,the flexural strength of PW-CFRCLs decreased by merely 4%-5%,while that of UD-CFRCLs decreased by 11%-14%.After 32 days of aging,the thinner PW-CFRCL with the lowest fiber content exhibited the highest flexural strength(595.52 MPa),followed by the thinner UD-CFRCL(549.83 MPa),then the thicker PW-CFRCL(445.29 MPa)and finally,the thicker UD-CFRCL(393.90 MPa).The decline in flexural properties of the laminates was primarily attributed to matrix cracking and interface debonding resulting from matrix oxidation.To validate the universality of this result,the finite element method was employed,showing a good correlation with the experimental findings.
基金funded by Open Foundation of the State Key Laboratory of Advanced Inorganic Fibers and Composites(Grant No.KF2024SYS02)the Jiangsu Province Special Fund for Carbon Peaking and Carbon Neutrality Technology Innovation(Grant No.BE2022008)the Prioritized Academic Program Development for Higher Education Institutions in Jiangsu.
文摘This study investigates the low-velocity impact and post-impact flexural properties of 3D integrated woven spacer composites,focusing on their orthotropic behavior when tested along two principal directions,i.e.,warp(X-type)and weft(Y-type)directions.The same composite material was tested in these orientations to evaluate the differences in impact resistance and residual bending strength.Specimens were fabricated via vacuum-assisted molding and tested at 2,3,5,and 7 J impact energies using an Instron Ceast 9350 drop-weight impact testing machine,in accordance with ASTM D7136.Post-impact flexural tests were performed using a four-point bending method in accordance with ASTM D7264.The absorbed energy increased from 1.97 to 6.98 J,and the panel damage area ranged from 121 to 361 mm^(2) as impact energy roses.Specimens tested in the weft direction(Y-type)showed greater residual strength(up to 15.83 N)and displacement(up to 0.538 mm)than those tested in the warp direction(X-type).Ultrasonic C-scan imaging revealed localized matrix cracking and fiber failure damage patterns.Results emphasize the directional differences in impact resistance and residual bending properties,highlighting the importance of material orientation in structural applications.This study provides a foundation for utilizing 3D woven spacer composites in lightweight,damage-tolerant structural components.
文摘Aspects of the general Vlasov theory are examined separately as applied to a thin-walled channel section cantilever beam under free-end end loading. In particular, the flexural bending and shear that arise under transverse shear and axial torsional loading are each considered theoretically. These analyses involve the location of the shear centre at which transverse shear forces when applied do not produce torsion. This centre, when taken to be coincident with the centre of twist implies an equivalent reciprocal behaviour. That is, an axial torsion applied concentric with the shear centre will twist but not bend the beam. The respective bending and shear stress conversions are derived for each action applied to three aluminium alloy extruded channel sections mounted as cantilevers with a horizontal principal axis of symmetry. Bending and shear are considered more generally for other thin-walled sections when the transverse loading axes at the shear centre are not parallel to the section = s centroidal axes of principal second moments of area. The fixing at one end of the cantilever modifies the St Venant free angular twist and the free warping displacement. It is shown from the Wagner-Kappus torsion theory how the end constrained warping generates an axial stress distribution that varies with the length and across the cross-section for an axial torsion applied to the shear centre. It should be mentioned here for wider applications and validation of the Vlasov theory that attendant papers are to consider in detail bending and torsional loadings applied to other axes through each of the centroid and the web centre. Therein, both bending and twisting arise from transverse shear and axial torsion applied to each position being displaced from the shear centre. Here, the influence of the axis position upon the net axial and shear stress distributions is to be established. That is, the net axial stress from axial torsional loading is identified with the sum of axial stress due to bending and axial stress arising from constrained warping displacements at the fixing. The net shear stress distribution overlays the distributions from axial torsion and that from flexural shear under transverse loading. Both arise when transverse forces are displaced from the shear centre.
基金support from the Taishan Scholars Program,Key Research Program of Frontier Sciences,Chinese Academy of Sciences(CAS),Grant No.ZDBS-LY-DQC022Open Research Fund of State Key Laboratory of Geomechanics and Geotechnical Engineering Safety,Grant No.SKLGME023003.
文摘High rock temperature is a great challenge frequently encountered during subsurface resource recovery and deep underground space utilization,and it is still unclear how the granitic rock responds to realtime high temperature upon shear loading.To better understand the shear fracture behavior and underlying processes of intact granite exposed to thermal-mechanical coupling loading,direct shear tests were conducted utilizing a newly built testing apparatus at varied normal stresses and high temperatures.Influencesof different temperatures and different heating methods(real-time heating and thermal treatment)on the shear mechanical behavior were compared and discussed.Results indicate that shear stress fluctuationswith some small stress drops occur as shear stress is approaching the peak strength under real-time heating,accompanied by more and earlier AE signal uprushes.This suggests that greater cracking events occur earlier during real-time heating than after thermal treatment,resulting in a lower peak shear strength.Furthermore,the peak shear strength,post-peak stress drop,and cohesion rise from room temperature(RT)to 200℃(the peak strength increases by 8%,5.8%,and 9.9%under normal stress of 5 MPa,15 MPa,and 20 MPa,correspondingly),and subsequently decline from 200℃to 400℃.Temperature has a limited impact on shear stiffness from RT to 200℃,but significantlyreduces it from 200℃to 400℃,with drops of 15%,7.9%,and 10%under normal stress of 5 MPa,15 MPa,and 20 MPa,respectively.Moreover,the shear strength and stiffness under real-time heating are lower than those for the thermally treated specimens.The strengthening of intact granite below 200℃upon shear is associated with loss of water and a more compacted structure,while the weakening effect of temperature on shear strength from 200℃to 400℃is due to the new thermal cracks and less brittle and stiff of minerals.
基金supported by the State Key Laboratory of Intelligent Construction and Healthy Operation and Maintenance of Deep Underground Engineering(Grant No.SDGZ2505)the Postdoctoral Fellowship Program of the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(Grant No.GZB20250742)the General Program of the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(Grant No.2025M773213).
文摘The negative Poisson’s ratio(NPR)bolt is an innovative support element distinguished by its high strength,elongation,and a slightly negative Poisson’s ratio.Unlike conventional prestressed(PR)bolts with a positive Poisson’s ratio,the NPR bolt exhibits a quasi-ideal plastic response without a prominent yield platform,enabling it to sustain high prestress with a substantial safety margin,which is particularly advantageous for jointed rock masses.However,investigations into the shear resistance mechanisms of NPR bolts under varying prestress levels remain limited.This study conducted full-scale double shear tests to assess the shear strength,deformation behavior,energy absorption,and failure mechanisms of NPR bolts under different prestress conditions.To ensure a fair comparison with PR bolts,a prestress utilization coefficient(PUC)was introduced.The results reveal that at a PUC of 0.25,the NPR bolt achieved peak axial force,shear displacement,and peak shear force values that are 2.41,1.88,and 2.13 times greater than those of the PR bolt,respectively.Shear performance was optimized at a prestress level of 100 kN,with energy absorption reaching 47.1 kJ,which is 2.8 times that of the PR bolt.Furthermore,the necking ratio was significantly reduced,indicating more distributed plastic deformation and delayed failure.Field applications verified the superior performance,resulting in a 27.4%reduction in roof settlement and enhanced structural integrity.These findings confirm that NPR bolts possess excellent shear resistance,energy absorption,and deformation adaptability,and optimizing prestress significantly enhances their support performance,providing a strong basis for geotechnical engineering applications.
文摘To improve the shear and flexural capacity of flexural members, the steel and basalt fibers were used in model beams tested under flexure. Three series of single span free supported model beams were prepared from SFRC （steel fiber reinforced concrete） with longitudinal steel reinforcement （steel ratio of 1.2 %） and varied spacing of steel stirrups and they were tested till failure. Another three series of BFRC （basalt fiber reinforced concrete） double-span model beams with a span of 2 mm~ 1,000 mm and cross section 180 mm ~ 80 mm were tested. During the tests till to the failure the beam reactions, vertical deflections and horizontal strains in concrete were registered, to clarify the range of redistribution of bending moments and shear forces over the span of the beams. Almost all the tested model beams failed in shear, showing visible influence of steel and basalt fibers on the shear capacity of the tested beams. The tests results confirmed that steel and basalt fibers in reinforced concrete beams can partially replace （in certain cases） the traditional steel stirrups calculated for shear.
基金jointly supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China[grant numbers U2342202,42175005,and 42175016]the Qing Lan Project[grant number R2023Q06]。
文摘This study investigates the width of the secondary eyewall(SE)immediately following its formation in tropical cyclones with surface environmental winds aligned and counter-aligned with environmental vertical wind shear(VWS),using idealized numerical experiments.Results reveal that the SE develops greater radial extent when surface winds align with VWS compared to counter-aligned conditions.In alignment configurations,shear-enhanced surface winds on the right flank amplify surface enthalpy fluxes,thereby elevating boundary-layer entropy within the downshear outer-core region.Subsequently,more vigorous outer rainbands develop,inducing marked acceleration of tangential winds in the outer core preceding SE formation.The resultant radial expansion of supergradient winds near the boundary-layer top triggers widespread convective activity immediately beyond the inner core.Progressive axisymmetrization of this convective forcing ultimately generates an expansive SE structure.
基金support from the Postgraduate Research&Practice Innovation Program of Jiangsu Province,China(Grant No.KYCX24_2822)the Graduate Innovation Program of China University of Mining and Technology(Grant No.2024WLKXJ205)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.52474157).
文摘Excavation causes stress redistribution and affects the stress path during the shearing process of rock.The shear strength of rock varies under different stress paths,and the presence of defects reduces the shear strength.To further investigate this phenomenon,this study investigates the shear behaviour of rocks with different shear surface integrities under the influenceof different stress paths through laboratory tests and numerical simulations.The results indicate that the shear strength depends on the stress path and a decrease in the shear surface integrity reduces the degree of dependence.The cohesion and friction angle of the Mohr‒Coulomb criterion decrease with weakening of the shear surface integrity.For different stress paths,the direct shear strength is always greater than that of other shear stress paths.The pattern of changes in the acoustic emission count and cumulative count indirectly reflectsthe above findings.Numerical simulations further indicate that the different principal stress states and normal suppression effects during the shearing process lead to changes in the factors of crack propagation,resulting in different mechanical behaviours under various stress paths.For rocks with different integrity levels,the main reason for the different path dependences of shear strength is that the size of the area affected by shear is different.Shear failure will concentrate on the shear plane when the normal inhibition effect is greater.This study explores the mechanism of rock shear behaviour,providing a theoretical basis for establishing more accurate constitutive models and strength criteria.
基金supported by the High-end Foreign Expert Introduction Program(Grant No.G2022165004L)the Sichuan Transportation Science and Technology Project(Grant No.2018-ZL-01)China Railway 20th Bureau Science and Technology Project(Grant No.YF1900SD07B).
文摘Root-inspired anchorage systems in the field of bio-inspired geotechnics are renowned for enhancing the pullout capacity of traditional geotechnical anchorage systems by simulating the morphology and architecture of plant root systems.However,limited studies have explored their practical applications,particularly in improving slope stability.To fill this gap,this study investigates the reinforcement effect of root-inspired anchors on slope stabilization using transparent soil modeling and 3D-printed anchors,and examines the impact of anchor branching patterns(i.e.branching numbers,branching angle,and branching nodes)on slope bearing capacity,shear band evolution,and temporal and spatial variation of slope deformation.The results show that peak slope bearing capacity increases with branching numbers and branching angles,correlating with the envelope area of the curved shear band.Upper anchors result in step-like deflections in the shear band near the trailing edge,while lower anchors convert the upward concave shear band into an upward convex one,thus increasing the slope bearing capacity.Slope deformation is minimized with intermediate branching parameters,such as a branching number of 4 and a branching angle of 45°.The anchor reinforcement mechanisms,i.e.anchor rod shear resistance,interface friction,anchor pullout capacity,and plate tightening effects,are comprehensively discussed,and the installation effects resulting from compromise slope modeling are identified as the contributors.These findings shed light on the failure process of root-inspired anchors reinforced slopes and provide a preliminary reference for potential applications,especially for the tradeoff between anchor branching,slope deformation,and slope stability.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos.42422705,42207175,42177117 and 42577170)the Ningbo Youth Leading Talent Project (No.2024QL051)+1 种基金the Chinese Academy of Engineering Science and Technology Strategy Consulting Project (No.2025-XZ-57)the Central Government Funding Program for Guiding Local Science and Technology Development (No.2025ZY01028)。
文摘Rock mass stability is significantly influenced by the heterogeneity of rock joint roughness and shear strength.While modern technology facilitates assessing roughness heterogeneity,evaluating shear strength heterogeneity remains challenging.To address this,this study first captures the morphology of large-scale(1000 mm × 1000 mm) slate and granite joints via 3D laser scanning.Analysis of these surfaces and corresponding push/pull tests on carved specimens revealed a potential correlation between the heterogeneity of roughness and shear strength.A comparative evaluation of five statistical metrics identified information entropy(Hs) as the most robust indicator for quantifying rock joint heterogeneity.Further analysis using Hsreveals that the heterogeneity is anisotropic and,critically,that shear strength heterogeneity is governed not only by roughness heterogeneity but is also significantly influenced by the mean roughness value,normal stress,and intact rock tensile strength.Consequently,a simple comparison of roughness Hsvalues is insufficient for reliably comparing shear strength heterogeneity.To overcome this limitation,a theoretical framework is developed to explicitly map fundamental roughness statistics(mean and heterogeneity) to shear strength heterogeneity.This framework culminates in a practical workflow that allows for the rapid,field-based assessment of shear strength heterogeneity using readily obtainable rock joint roughness data.
基金support from the National Key Research and Development Program of China(Grant No.2022YFE0137200)supported by the Taishan Scholars Program and Open Research Fund of State Key Laboratory of Geomechanics and Geotechnical Engineering Safety(Grant No.SKLGME023003).
文摘High geo-stress and high temperature in deep rock engineering increase the possibility of engineering and geological disasters in discontinuous rocks.However,the influence of thermomechanical coupling on the shear behavior and damage evolution of prefractured granite remains immature.In this context,true triaxial laboratory tests and discrete element method simulations under different confining pressures(σ3=3 MPa,σ2=4 MPa,andσ3=80 MPa,σ2=100 MPa)and temperatures(25℃-500℃)were carried out on rough granite fractures with two different orientations.Results indicate that high temperature and high confining pressure increase the peak strength of the prefractured specimen,leading to more microcracks in the host rock and more gouges between the surfaces.Thermal strengthening at low temperatures(<300℃)and residual stick-slip only occur under a greater confining pressure for prefractured specimens.High confining pressure suppresses generation of the thermal microcracks in the heating stage.Cracks first initiate in the asperities on the fracture surfaces,and then propagate into the rock matrix during the mechanical loading stage.In addition,prefractured granite with a larger fracture angle is characterized by smaller peak and residual strength,faster residual slip,fewer new cracks on the specimen surface,and a more pronounced thermal strengthening effect on peak strength.The slip tendency analysis indicates that a higher maximum principal stress(s1)and a large fracture angle(45°-75°)generally result in a higher potential for fracture slip or activation.This study will contribute to a better understanding of the fracture shear mechanism under true triaxial thermomechanical coupling conditions and provides new insights into the stability evaluation of deep dynamic geological hazards.
基金The National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.51278118)the National Basic Research Program of China(973Program)(No.2009CB623200)the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province(No.BK2012756)
文摘To investigate the flexural behaviors of steel reinforced engineered cementitious composite （ECC） beams, the behaviors of the steel reinforced ECC beam and the conventional steel reinforced concrete beam subjected to flexural load are experimentally compared. The experimental results show that the flexural strength and ductility of the steel reinforced ECC beam are 24.8% and 187.67% times larger than those of the steel reinforced concrete beam, and the substitution of concrete with ECC can significantly delay the propagation of cracks. Additionally, a simplified constitutive model of the ECC material is used to simulate the flexural behaviors of beams by the finite element analysis （FEA）. The results show a good agreement between the simulation and test results. The crack width of the steel reinforced ECC beam can be limited to 0.4 mm under the service load conditions. The application of ductile ECC can significantly increase the flexural performance in terms of flexural strength, deformation capacity and ductility of the beams.
文摘Based on the experimental study and inelastic theory, the ultimate flexuralcapacity of steel encased concrete composite beams are derived. The difference between steel encasedconcrete composite beams with full shear connection and beams with partial shear connection,together with the relationship between the inelastic neutral axis of steel parts and concrete parts,are considered in the formulae. The calculation results of the eight specimens with full shearconnection and the three specimens with partial shear connection are in good agreement with theexperimental data, which validates the effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed calculationmethods. Furthermore, the nonlinear finite element analysis of the ultimate flexural capacity of thesteel encased concrete composite beams is performed. Nonlinear material properties and nonlinearcontact properties are considered in the finite element analysis. The finite element analyticalresults also correlate well with the experimental data.
基金Project(2011CB605804)supported by the National Basic Research Program of ChinaProject(51165006)supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China+1 种基金Project(BY2013015-32)supported by Cooperative Innovation Fund-Prospective Project of Jiangsu Province,ChinaProject(JUSRP1045)supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities,China
文摘Unidirectional carbon/carbon（C/C） composites modified with in situ grown carbon nanofibers（CNFs） were prepared by catalysis chemical vapor deposition. The effect of in situ grown CNFs on the flexural properties of the C/C composites was investigated by detailed analyses of destructive process. The results show that there is a sharp increase in the flexural load-displacement curve in the axial direction of the CNF-C/C composites, followed by a serrated yielding phenomenon similar to the plastic materials. The failure mode of the C/C composites modified with in situ grown CNFs is changed from the pull-out of single fiber to the breaking of fiber bundles. The existence of interfacial layer composed by middle-textured pyrocarbon, CNFs and high-textured pyrocarbon can block the crack propagation and change the propagation direction of the main crack, which leads to the higher flexural strength and modulus of C/C composites.
基金The National Basic Research Program of China (973 Program)(No.2007CB714200)the National Natural Science Foundationof China (No.50608015,50908102)
文摘Numerical analysis is carried out to study the sectional properties of the fiber-reinforced polymer（FRP）-confined reinforced concrete（RC）circular columns. The axial load ratio, the FRP confinement ratio and the longitudinal reinforcement characteristic value are the three main parameters that can influence the neutral axis depth when concrete compression strain reaches an ultimate value. The formula for computing the central angle θ, corresponding to the compression zone, is established according to the data regression of the numerical analysis results. The numerical analysis results demonstrate that the concrete stress enhancement from transverse confinement and strain hardening of the longitudinal reinforcement can cause a much greater flexural strength than that defined by the design code. Based on the analytical studies and the test results of 36 large scale columns, the formula to calculate the flexural strength when columns fail under seismic loading is proposed, and the calculated results agree well with the test results. Finally, parametric studies are conducted on a typical column with different axial load ratios, longitudinal reinforcement characteristic value and FRP confinement ratios. Analysis of the results shows that the calculated flexural strength can be increased by 50% compared to that of unconfined columns defined by the code.
